Luton Town Ladies travelled to Everett Rovers Football Club to take on Watford dev’s on Sunday in their first game of 2025 and came away with a priceless 1-0 victory.
New signing Erin Price was named in the starting 11 for her debut, while Tsianne Leander also made her first appearance of the season, starting up top alongside Leyah Maddix, who started for the first time this campaign.
Leander made an instant impact just 90 seconds into the game when she produced a great turn away from a Watford defender but just as she was about to pull the trigger, her shot was well blocked.
Liz Mulvaney’s strike from outside the area was the closest Luton came to an opener in the first 20 minutes but she prevent her shot from flying over the bar.
Just before half-time the Town came close to taking the lead when, in the second minute of additional time at the end of the first half, Tanya Blacksley’s header crashed against the crossbar.
The Hatters continued to press after the restart and, five minutes into the second half, they hit the woodwork again. Jess McKay was played through on goal via the right-hand side but her effort hit the outside of the near post.
However the Town were not to be denied shortly after the hour. Gabriella Spillman was introduced in the 63rd minute and instantly produced an incredible assist for McKay to open the scoring. She picked up the ball outside the area and played an wonderful pass with the outside of her boot which open the defence for McKay, who struck an excellent first-time finish past the Watford goalkeeper.
Spillman, who was lively when she came on, almost claimed a second assist of the afternoon. She picked up the ball on the right-hand side, sped past a Watford defender and picked out Tasha Fensome in the area who saw her shot well saved, onto the post.
That was the game’s final chance as the Town held on to secure victory against their local rivals.
Town: Hudson, Wade, Blacksley, Farmer, Price, Mulvaney, Leighton, Swarres, McKay, Leander, Maddix.
Subs: Fensome, Lewis, Spillman, Partridge, Tucker.
Report by Owen Williams